THE8 | Junhao

SIXTEEN

| CHAPTER SIXTEEN |

Minghao swings his leg off his motorcycle, kicking the break so it stays in place, leaning successfully as it should.

He tugs off his helmet, his red hair swaying in the wind as he shakes it, letting the pieces fall back into place perfectly.

He hooks the helmet on one of the handles, letting it hang.

He stares at his motorcycle for a while, not wanting to turn around. The station was still only just a street away, yet he felt his heart pounding out of his chest even at the thought.

But he must've been thinking the whole entire walk there because he finds himself at the front entrance of the station in no time, hands tucked inside his pockets as he stares at the bright blue letters in bold.

| SEOUL POLICE DEPARTMENT |

He closes his eyes, cursing under his breath. He forces himself to step inside, pushing through the glass doors before he can tell himself no.

He's hit with the smell of coffee beans and lysol when he steps inside. It smelt clean, yet sweet. It was an odd scent, yet, Minghao liked it. He found it interesting, just as interesting as the the person that was suddenly walking towards him.

It was a man, dirty blonde hair matted on the top of his head, a bright smile shone on his face. He walks over with clasped hands, grinning at the mere sight of Minghao.

"The8, I'm presuming?" He asks.

Minghao nods, "How'd you guess?"

The man chuckles, shrugging, "Well, I looked at your resume... I could kinda spot the red from a mile away." He gestures towards Minghao's head, eyes on the bright strands.

"Oh." Minghao hums.

The man takes a breath, "I'm Boo Seungkwan," He holds out a hand, one in which Minghao's quick to take, "I'm the chief of police. It's nice to have you on the team, The8."

Minghao flashes him a smile, looking around.

Seungkwan chuckles awkwardly, clasping his hands. He then turns to the side, gesturing for Minghao to move, "This way."

Minghao walks in that direction, Seungkwan catching up, walking by his side.

"You'll have an office of course, one that you'll share with other officers." Minghao nods at the chief's words, folding his lips together as his eyes scan over everything, studying his surroundings, "We call it cubbies."

Minghao holds a laugh.

"Down here." Seungkwan walks in front, Minghao following him down the hall, "You'll have your own space of course. A cubby."

Minghao's seriously trying so hard not to laugh.

They soon arrive.

Seungkwan opens the door, pushing his way inside. Minghao follows, trailing behind him, not even making it all the way inside before three heads are popping up from the said... Cubbies.

Seungkwan smiles, "Your new recruit."

One of the officers stand up with a greeting, "It's nice to meet you." He stands in front of Minghao, shaking his hand firmly, "I'm officer Kim, but you can just call me Mingyu."

"Hello." Minghao says back.

"And I'm Lee Chan." Minghao didn't even notice another man walk over, eyes flickering down to a hand in which he shakes, "Just call me Dino."

"Dino?" Minghao looks confused.

"Hey," Dino pouts, "I didn't say anything about your name."

Minghao looks at him, brows raised.

"Forgive him." Mingyu smiles, not bothering to glance at dino, "He's a bit of a.... child." Mingyu glares at Dino, slapping his bicep.

Whilst Dino winces, another person walks over. They grin, holding out a hand. and God, Minghao has shaken too many hands today.

"I'm Jeon Wonwoo." He greets, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Minghao nods, "Likewise."

A pause. Minghao looks around, "Is it just the four of us?" He asks Seungkwan, furrowing his brows the when the chief shakes his head in disagreement.

"Last one's on break." Seungkwan rolls his eyes, sighing, "Of course, at the worst time."

"It's alright." Minghao shrugs, "I'll meet him later."

Seungkwan nods, looking at everyone, "Okay then," He sucks a breath with an excited smile, "You three, show The8 around the room please, and help him with his computer."

"Yes sir." Dino smiles, and Seungkwan leaves, walking through a different door in the room besides the one they came in. Minghao guesses it's his own office.

"Okayyyyy." Dino pops his knuckles, "Follow me, new guy."

Mingyu slaps him again, "You just need to not talk at this point." He sighs in frustration, "For the sake of all of us, please."

Dino scoffs with a pout, pushing Mingyu aside.

"Anyways, here's your desk." Dino motions for Minghao to take a seat in the chair, so Minghao pulls it out, sitting down, feeling it swirl freely.

"Excuse me," Dino leans over Minghao, hand on the mouse as he clicks away on the computer in front of them both, "I just need to log you into the website and you can go ahead and get started."

Minghao nods, waiting.

The door opens before he can even form a thought in his head, someone stepping inside. Minghao can't tell who, he cant see over the... cubbies.

"Back from break?" He hears Wonwoo, the boy speaking with a mouth full of food, and Minghao tries not to laugh. 

"You're clearly not." It's a fairly deep voice, and Minghao finds it a bit fascinating.

"Your new partner is here, might wanna go check him out." Minghao hears a soft slap, and this is like the fourth time he's tried not to laugh.

Minghao keeps his attention focused on the computer, watching Dino type password after password, trying to log him into whatever website this station owned.

"Jun hyung, I am in need of assistance." Dino pouts, cursing at the computer, "Come help me, I can't remember the code for 282d."

"You always forget it." A groan.

Minghao hears shuffling, and then someone walks around the corner. He turns his head, catching a glance.

The other seems to meet his eyes as well, freezing in place, and Minghao's beyond surprised by the sight before him.

"You." The supposed Jun stares wide eyed at Minghao.

Minghao looks at him, tilting his head to the side, amused. He offers Jun a grin, nodding a polite greeting, "Hello, officer Moon. It's good to see you again."

Jun's eye twitches, his thumb jabbed in Minghao's direction. Jun turns to look at who Minghao can easily presume as Wonwoo and Mingyu, "Did you two know about this?"

"Yeah? We all did." Mingyu chuckles awkwardly, "We literally had an entire meeting about—"

"No, no— I meant about him."

Dino looks up from the computer, situating the glasses on his face. He gives Jun a confused, yet frustrated glance, "What the hell are you going on about, hyung?" He nudges his head at the computer, "Cone help me."

Jun's just still, eyes on a grinning Minghao.